Lead jointer



March 19, 1957 w. M. WlLLETT LEAD JOINTER Filed Feb; 1, 1954 Willis M. Willa rr IN VEN TOR.. aoin. admoy 12 United States Patent LEAD JOINTER Willis M. Willett, Leakey, Tern, assignor of twenty percent to Giles Grady, Corpus Christi, Tex.

Application February 1, 1954, Serial No. 407,428 1 Claim. (c1. 22-118) This invention relates to a lead jointer and more specifically provides a device for guiding molten lead into a soil pipe joint.

An object of this invention is to provide a relatively simple and inexpensive lead jointer which can be easily and quickly applied on a soil pipe and positioned against the mouth of the bell which forms a holder over the mouth of the bell to retain molten lead therein until it solidifies on cooling.

Another object of this invention is to provide a lead jointer having a spout or guide chute through which molten lead can be poured into the bell.

A further object of this invention is to provide a lead jointer having a chute for guiding molten lead into a pipe joint and having a band of asbestos or mineral fiber for retaining the molten lead in the pipe joint until it solifies upon cooling.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a soil pipe lead jointer which is easily and quickly applicable to the soil pipe, which is simple in operation, well adapted for its purposes and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the lead jointer of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken substantially through a plane along the longitudinal center line of a soil pipe showing the lead jointer of the present invention assembled thereon in position for receiving and guiding the molten lead into the joint with the lead jointer engaging the mouth end of the bell of the pipe joints;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view showing the lead jointer of the present invention in disassembled or uncoupled position; and

Figure 4 is a detailed vertical section taken substantially along section line 4-4 of Figure 3 showing the details of construction and the cross sectional shape of the annular ring of asbestos and felt material.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, it will be seen that the numeral generally designates the lead jointer of the present invention for positioning around a soil pipe 12 which has been inserted in the bell 14 of an adjoining soil pipe 16. The bell 14 normally has an annular space indicated by the numeral 18 wherein lead may be poured into the space 18 thereby sealing the pipe 12 to the pipe 16 and forming a continuous passage therethrough.

The lead jointer iii of the present invention generally includes a pair of semi-circular metal members 20 and 22 hingedly connected together by a hinge member 24 having hinge straps 25 secured to the semi-circular members 20 and 22 by suitable fastening means such as welding. The opposite adjoining edges of the semi-circular ice members 20 and 22 are provided with extending lugs 28 and 31 with the lug 28 having an aperture 32 therein and the lug having an open ended slot 34 therein. A bolt 36 having a hooked end 38 positioned in the aperture 32 has a threaded portion extending above the lug 30 and a wing nut 40 positioned thereon engages the upper surface of the lug 3t? thereby retaining the adjacent ends of the semi-circular members 20 and 22 against each other.

Secured to the inner surface of each of the semi-circular members 20 and 22 is a semi-circular section of asbestos being circular in cross section and being continuous about the interior surface of the members 22 and 20 when they are in an assembled position forming a ring. Also secured to the interior surface of the members 20 and 22 is a pair of semi-circular sections of felt 44 also forming a continuous ring when the members 20 and 22 are held in assembled position. The asbestos material 42 and the felt material 44 are secured to the surface by suitable rivets 46 which permits the removal and replacement of the asbestos 42 and the felt 44 when necessary after long use. It will be seen that the asbestos material 42 is spaced from one edge of the members 20 and 22 thereby permitting the members 26 and 22 to telescopically engage over the outer end of the bell 14 of the soil pipe 16.

Centrally disposed on the semi-circular member and normally being the uppermost point of the lead jointer it), a guide chute or funnel-like member 48 is positioned in an aperture and has a discharge opening 50 extending through the semi-circular asbestos member 42. The asbestos member receives the discharge between adjoining sections of the semi-circular portion. It will be noted that the discharge opening terminates in spaced relation to the inner periphery of the felt member 44 thereby providing a space to assure the discharge of molten lead into the space 18 between the pipe 12 and the bell 14 of the pipe 16. This funnel or spout 48 is made up of suitable stock material welded together and welded to the exterior surface of the semi-circular member 20 at substantially its center point thereby assuring the action of gravity filling the space 13 full of molten metal.

The operation of the device Will be readily understood. The nut 40 is loosened thereby permitting the bolt 36 to be pivoted out of the open ended slot 34 and permitting the semicircular members 20 and 22 to be pivoted away from one another about hinge pin 24. The semi-circular members 2% and 22 are then positioned around the pipe 12 and the bolt 35 positioned in the slot 34 and the wing nut 41] tightened down with the inlet spout or chute in the uppermost position and the asbestos rings 42 engaging the mouth or outer surface of the bell 14 thereby forming a dam or a closure for the bell 14. The discharge opening is spaced from the outer surface of the pipe 12 thereby permitting the molten lead to be discharged in the space 18 between the bell 14 and the pipe 12 in an obvious manner.

The asbestos 42 retains the molten lead or other metal in the space until it cools and solidifies thereby assuring a proper seal between the pipes 12 and 16. Obviously, the felt 4-4 is a backing element for the asbestos member 42. Obviously, the wing nut 40 may be loosened and the lead jointer slid along the pipe as desired. Further, the specific construction of the rivets 46 permits the easy renewal of the asbestos member 42 and the felt member 44 after long use. It will be seen that this permits the easy and quick leading of pipe joints and also permits easy assembly to the pipe for the leading operation. The members Zit and 22 are constructed of suitable metal having suliicient thickness to prevent twisting and buckling. This device is especially useful in the laying of soil pipes or any type pipes using a bell 14 or a spigot on one end thereof. In practical operation, this device has found widearssaso r r spread acceptanee and results in much time and labor saving.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A lead jointer for guiding molten lead into the bell joint of a soil pipe comprising a pair of complementary semicircular members adjustably connected together to, form a ring clamp around and bridging the joint, a ring of asbestos secured to the interior of the ring clamp, a ring of felt secured to the interior of the ring clamp alongside said asbestos ring, said asbestos ring being spaced from the side edges of said ring clamp thereby permitting said ring clamp to bridge the joint and the asbestos to abut the end of the soil pipe bell, one of said semi-circular members having an aperture therethrough, a continuous guide chute positioned in said aperture and being closed at its sides, said asbestos ring having spaced ends at opposite sides of said aperture, said closed sides of the chute extending through the space between said ends of the asbestos ring to substantially the inner periphery of said asbestos ring and felt ring to guide molten lead through said asbestos ring to said bell joint at one side of said felt ring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 319,289 McKenna et al June 2, 1885 801,222 Corcoran Oct. 10, 1905 1,420,586 Spencer June 20, 1922 1,623,058 Kollock Apr. 5, 1927 FOREIGN PATENTS 324,450 Great Britain Jan. 30, 1930 

